Test over American Revolution

Click on the link:  American Revolution Test

Review for Revolutionary War Test

Practice Test

Rags to Riches

Battle ship

When finished, pick a video

Items on tomorrow's test:
Declaration of Independence
-Thomas Jefferson
Battles of Lexington and Concord
-Paul Revere
-minutemen
-shot heard round the world
Battle of Bunker Hill
-loss for patriots, but proved they could, and would fight
Valley Forge
-Washington's troops outside Philadelphia
Battle of Trenton
-Washington surprised Hessians, won the battle
-crossed the Delaware in a snow storm on Christmas night
Battle of Saratoga
-"turning point of the war
-result: French alliance
-Benedict Arnold hero- later turned traitor, sold plans to West Point to British
Battle of Yorktown
-importance of Marquis de Lafayette
-last battle of war/victory for Americans
Treaty of Paris
-Peace agreement between U.S. and Great Britain to end the war

Benedict Arnold: Hero or Villian?

Today we study the Battle of Saratoga as the "Turning Point" of the American Revolution.  The success of this battle convinced the French and their ally Spain, to help the Americans in their war for independence.  As a result of the war, General Horatio Gates was catapulted into the American history books as a great leader of men.  But was Gates responsible for the victory at Saratoga?

We will answer the question today "Should there be a monument for Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Saratoga National Park?"

Read:  Benedict Arnold at the Battle of Saratoga

Next, watch the video trial of Benedict Arnold.
The Trial of Benedict Arnold

Write three paragraphs describing why Benedict Arnold should, or should not be given a monument at the Battle of Saratoga National Park.

The Battle of Trenton

Today we will explore the Battle of Trenton.  This battle was crucial to the American war effort as most of the men in Washington's Continental Army were finishing their time of enlistment as of January 1st.  After months of losing, and being chased by the British Army, General Washington made a bold move to cross the Delaware River into New Jersey on Christmas night.  There, he surprised a regiment of Hessian soldiers who they promptly captured.  Nearly all of Washington's men would re-enlist due to this stunning victory over some of the best fighting men in the world.

Watch the film:  The Battle of Trenton

Battle of Trenton reading comprehension:  Read the passage and answer the questions.  Remember you must get all of the answers correct!  Let me see your perfect score when you are finished.

Next, fill out the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River.

Now you may play the following game:
Fling the teacher

The American Revolution

This week we look at some of the more important events during the American Revolution.  Yesterday, students made battle maps and plans for the Battle of Bunker Hill from the British perspective.

 Today, we look at Valley Forge.  Students will read primary documents from Valley Forge, answer questions about the documents, then write an essay to answer the question:  "What hardships did the soldiers face at Valley Forge?".  The essay will be in 5-paragraph form.
Evidence for the essay will come from the primary documents that include letters and diaries.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence- easy read

Answer all of the questions from the 2-sided handout you were given in class.

When finished, click here:  Declaration of Independence puzzle

Thomas Jefferson                                                                             John Locke







                                                                                             

Causes of the American Revolution Test

Click on the following link to take the test:   Causes of the American Revolution Test

If you have not already done so, take the charts and graphs pre-test

When done with both, you may play any social studies activity linked to my blog site, read a book, or work on something from another class.

Test Friday

Review Games

Battleship
Java Games
Rags to Riches

The following items will be on the test Friday:
The French and Indian War
sugar act
stamp act
townshend act
tea act
proclamation of 1763
navigation acts
writs of assistance
quartering act
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
First Continental Congress
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Shot Heard Round the World
boycott
taxes
"No taxation without representation"
Sons of Liberty
protest

Brain Pop!

When finished with the research assignment, go to Brain Pop.  You must log in
username:  fairfieldsfuture
password:  brainpop

Watch the film, complete both of the quizzes, complete the activities.

You must show me that you completed the quizzes and activities successfully.

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes (and some other stuff too!)

Our job at this point is to research causes of the American Revolution.  Using Google docs, you and a partner will research the following:

Sugar Act
Stamp Act
Townshend Acts
Tea Act

For each of the above, you should answer the following questions:
1)  What was taxed?
2)  Who was affected by the tax?
3)  Why did the colonists protest the tax?
4)  In what ways did the colonists protest the tax?

After researching taxes, answer this question in your document:  
"Was the American Revolution justified?"  Based on the taxes above, do you think the colonists had a good reason for rebelling and overthrowing Great Britain?


Research each of the following laws and events (not taxes), and answer the questions that follow:
Proclamation of 1763 (law)
The Navigation Acts (law)
Writs of assistance (law)
Quartering Act of 1765 (law)
The Boston Massacre (event)
The Boston Tea Party (event)
The Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) (law)

Questions for laws:
1)  Description of law
2)  What was the purpose of law?
3)  Why did the colonists protest the law?
4)  In what ways did the colonists protest the law?

Questions for events:
1)  Describe the event
2)  What caused the event?
3)  How did Parliament react to the event?

I want to learn to.......

Take the Quiz

Review for Test

Test will be on Wednesday.  It will cover everything from Prince Henry of Portugal to the 13 English Colonies.
To review for the test play the following games:
Colonial Battleship
English Colonies Hangman
Jamestown millionaire
Plymouth Battleship
Columbus Java Games
Thirteen Colonies Java Games

Items on the test:
Prince Henry the Navigator
Christopher Columbus
Aztecs
Cortes
Incas
Pizarro
Vasco da Gama
King Henry VIII
Protestant Reformation
Northwest Passage
John Smith
John Rolfe
Pocahontas
Virginia Company of London
charter
joint-stock company
Plymouth Colony
Jamestown settlement
Roanoke Island
astrolabe
caravel
Powhatan Indians
Squanto
tobacco
The Mayflower
The Mayflower Compact
Puritans
Pilgrims
Separatists
Pre-Columbian Native Americans
William Penn/Pennsylvania/Quakers
Roger Williams
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
The Starving Time
Maryland/Catholics
town meetings
Bible: used to teach reading in the NE Colonies

If finished studying for the test, you should play the following U.S.A. state geography games:
Beginner
Intermediate
Expert
Cartographer
Cartographer Plus
Explorer
Explorer Plus
Geographer 
Master Geographer

Indian Hills Survey and John Smith

Today, you will spend a few minutes taking the Indian Hills student interest survey.  We will take a trip to Indian Hills Community College in a few weeks to explore occupations.  Click on the following link and complete the survey before doing anything else.      Indian Hills survey


Now that you are finished, click on the following link to learn about Captain John Smith:
On the trail with John Smith

Jamestown Adventure

Today you will pley a game called Jamestown Adventure.  To play, click on the following link:  Jamestown Adventure. 

As you play, you will be filling out a packet to explain why you made certain decisions, the consequences of the decisions, and what the Jamestown settlers actually did.  Have fun!

Scavenger Hunt!

Explore information about famous explorers!  click on the following link to play:    Scavenger Hunt
when you have all the correct answers, raise your hand to show me.

The Great Exchange

When you have finished with the "Rags to Riches" game (and have won $1,000,000)  you may click on the following link to play a new game:  Merchants of the Great Exchange

Play several times to see how successful you can be as a merchant!

When through playing, watch this National Geographic video about the Columbian Exchange.

The Columbian Exchange

Christopher Columbus

     When it comes to European Explorers, Christopher Columbus is a giant.  However, during his lifetime and even up to the 20th century, he was not given much credit for discovering the "New World".   Instead, that honor was given to Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian map maker who first realized the land was new and named it for himself.
     Today, we give credit to Columbus because his discovery truly led to the European colonization of North and South America.

Today, you will be playing some games and reading about Christopher Columbus.  Click on the following link to play:

Christopher Columbus

When you have finished playing rags to riches and have won the $1,000,000 prize (check's in the mail),
you can watch the following video at History.com

The real story of Christopher Columbus

If you have time, there will be many videos about Columbus that automatically play after the one above, go ahead and watch a few, I think you will find that they are very interesting.

Student Survey

Click on the following link to take the   Student Survey

The 5-Paragraph Essay

Today we will practice the 5 paragraph essay.  Our goal is to answer the question, "Were Pre-Columbian Native Americans worthy of respect?".  To learn how to write a proper essay, we will first write a practice essay answering the question, "Are school lunches worth eating?".
Today we went through the outline, tomorrow students will write the essay.

The Native American Life Grid

Today, students who were finished with the map worked on the Native American Life Grid.  They collected information on the political, economic, and social aspects of Native American culture in the area they chose to study.  After completing the chart they were asked to interpret the chart by drawing a picture on the back that they feel best represents their Pre-Columbian Native American culture area.

So far, we have collected, organized, and analyzed information.  We then gave our interpretation of what life must have been like.  Next, we will evaluate- in this case, evaluate means students will develop an opinion as to whether they believe Pre-Columbians really had those aspects of culture to deserve to be called a civilization.

Pre-Columbian Native Americans

We tend to think of American history beginning with the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World in 1492.  In reality, it was not a new world, in fact people had been living there for thousands of years.  Many civilizations had sprouted and thrived in fertile North America.

Our first area of study in 8th grade social studies features Pre-Columbian Native American civilizations.  We will study the geographic, economic, social and political aspects of several tribes from the different culture areas.  During this unit we will collect, organize, analyze, and interpret information.  Then we will make an evaluation of Pre-Columbian Native American civilizations, synthesizing an essay to answer the question, "Were Pre-Columbian Native Americans worthy of respect?"


Step one in this unit will be to complete a Pre-Columbian Native American culture area map.  Today, students were given the map in class.  If you were absent today, make sure to ask me for the map tomorrow.  

Today's computer links

Go to the following to take the end of the year 8th grade reading comprehension test:
http://www.quia.com/quiz/4267683.html

When finished click on the following link to take the building climate survey:
climate survey

Glory

Today we will begin watching one of my favorite films, Glory.
Not only does this movie have star power (Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman), but it captures the sense of what life may have been like for the first all-black Army regiment in the history of the United States.  Much like our newspaper project, the story was created using personal letters and other primary documents.  Sit back and enjoy, you're going to like this film!

Across Five Aprils Newspaper Project

Newspaper Webquest

Introduction:  You and a partner are reporters and editors living in southern Illinois during the Civil War.  This border territory, like Newton in Across Five Aprils, is in a turmoil of conflicting feelings.  Illinois is a Union state, but many people have family and friends in the South.  Many local men have gone off to fight for the Union, but several, like Bill, have left to join the Confederacy.

Task:  As a team, you will research, write, and edit a special edition of your newspaper that focuses on a specific battle mentioned in Across Five Aprils.  In this edition of your paper, you must include at least the following: (1) a news article about the battle (including quotes from soldiers and/or officers); (2) a human interest story (local or national, not directly tied to the war);  (3) a letter to the editor from a local resident, who may be for or against the war (politician, freed slave, soldier, wife, businessman, etc); and (4) graphics, such as political cartoons, maps, and/or photographs.  In addition, you may want to include other articles or features (true to the time period!) common to many newspapers: (obituaries, sports, classified ads, etc.).  The newspaper will be created using a Google doc.  If you do the minimum you can earn at most, a C.  If you do a little more, you can earn a B.  To get an A, your newspaper should be full of good stories, pictures, etc.   Every story, picture, map, etc. must have a live link to the url address so I can see where you got the information.  
Scoring Rubric for Newspaper Project

Process Divide the necessary roles with your partner.  You will need an overall editor as well as reporters for each article.  Decide whether you want to be pro-Union or pro-Confederacy, as this will determine the editorial position of your paper. Pick a battle mentioned in Across Five Aprils.  Use the chapter resources to begin your research. Broaden and deepen your research through general resources and listing of primary documents on the Internet. Write the articles. Find the answers to who, what, when, where, why, and how as necessary. Be sure that your information is accurate - newspaper reporters always check their facts through multiple sources.  Use illustrations to make your story clear and interesting to the reader. Write catchy, concise headlines. Meet your deadlines!  Edit the articles. Publish your paper (Don't forget to share with me!)  Remember that newspapers are printed in columns.  You will need to use the table feature of Google docs to make the columns.

 General Civil War Resources

The American Civil War: The Struggle to Preserve the Union  
Map of the Union & Confederacy
Other Civil War Maps
The Valley of the Shadow Project
The American Civil War Homepage
Vermont in the Civil War
Civil War Terminology
Civil War Quotes
This Week in the Civil War
Financing the Civil War Exhibit at the Museum of American Financial History
Civil War Medicine (brief description plus extensive links with follow up information)

Primary Documents:

 Newspapers

The Historical New York Times Project:  The Civil War Years 
Secession Era Editorials Project at Furman University (newspaper editorials leading up to the Civil War)
"A Tough Story" in the Cleveland Plain Dealer May 1861
Selected Articles-Cleveland, Ohio Newspapers 1861-65
Confederate Calvary desertion notice (1865)

Memoirs

Personal Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant
Reminiscences of the Civil War by Gen. John B. Gordon
From Manassas to Appomattox by Lt. Gen. James Longstreet (CSA)
Advance and Retreat by Lt. Gen. J. B. Hood (CSA)
The Memoirs, Diary, and Life of Private Jefferson Moses, Company G, 93rd Illinois VolunteersCivil War Memories of Robert C. Cardin, Company B, 16th Tennessee Infantry

Letters

Letters from Ft. Sumter
Diaries, Letters, Recollections 
Photographs and Artwork

Selected Civil War Photographs (searchable index at the Library of Congress)
Valley of the Shadow Images Search (searchable index of photos and illustrations of battles)
Images of Wartime at The American Civil War Homepage
Civil War Cartoons (examples of political cartoons; some are difficult to read)
Civil War Album (modern photographs of battlefields, maps & official reports)
Maps

Civil War Maps (searchable index of historical maps at the Library of Congress)
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection (alphabetical listing of U.S. National Parks & Monuments)
Rare Civil War Map Collection at the University of Georgia Libraries

Miscellaneous (diaries, poems, sermons, legislation, etc.)

Documenting the American South (collection of electronic texts at UNC Chapel Hill)
Documentary Records at The American Civil War Homepage (public and private documents)
Digital Library and Archives at Virginia Tech (scroll down below photo for listing of documents)
Civil War Navies: Official Records (telegrams and reports about the battle at Hampton Roads)
The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (Commanders' After Action Reports)
Confederate States of America Documents (The Avalon Project at Yale Law School)
Civil War Women On-line Archival Collections at Duke University
Clipart (modern clipart as well as historical line drawings)

Secession Related Documents

The Constitution of the Confederate States of America (1861)
Comparison of USA vs. CSA Constitutions
South Carolina Declaration of Secession ( Dec. 24, 1860)
Texas Ordinance of Secession (Feb. 2, 1861)
Mississippi Declaration of Secession (?)

The links below are intended to be starting places for independent research, not an inclusive look at the Civil War.  Where possible, I have tried to include multiple links for some information to provide a balance of viewpoints, as well as to prepare for those inevitable days when particular websites are down.  Items marked (2) have a second link to another website.  Battle names follow those used in the text, which in general uses Union names.

Chapters 1-6

Attack on Fort Sumter (2)
Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) (2)
Battle of Wilson's Creek
General John Charles Fremont

"Jethro listened with fascination to the new names of men and places.  He heard admiration voiced for a brilliant young officer named McClellan, who had been put in top command of the army in the East.  He became aware of such names as Seward and Chase; he knew who Senator Sumner was and old Thad Stevens, what such names as Wendell Phillips and Henry Ward Beecher stood for, what roles were being played by Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee."

Ulysses S. Grant
Battle of Fort Henry
Battle of Fort Donelson
General Albert Sidney Johnston (CSA)
Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburgh Landing) (2)
General William Tecumseh Sherman   (memoirs of)

Chapters 7-9

General P. G. T Beauregard (CSA)
General Don Carlos Buell
Battle of Corinth
General John Pope
General Philip Sheridan
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredricksburg
Battle of Stones River
The Draft in the Civil War and Draft Riots
Desertion  of Eb and Court Martial Records
Letter of Pardon from President Lincoln 

Chapter 10

Battle of Chancellorsville (2)
General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker
General Ambrose Burnside
General William "Old Rosy" Rosecrans
General Braxton Bragg (CSA)
General Pemberton (CSA)
Admiral Foote
General George Meade
Battle of Gettysburg (2)
Battle of Vicksburg (2)
President Lincoln writes "The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the Sea." 

Chapter 11

Battle of Chickamauga (2) 
Emancipation Proclamation
General James Longstreet (CSA)
General George Thomas "The Rock of Chickamauga"
Battle of Logan's Crossroads (2)
General Alexander McCook 
General Thomas Crittenden
Gettysburg Address Exhibit and Plain Text Version
Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (Dec. 8, 1863)
General Henry Halleck
Horace Greeley
Battle of the Wilderness (2)

         Battle of Spotsylvania

Battle of Cold Harbor (2)
Siege of Petersburg (2)
Admiral Farragut
Battle of Mobile Bay (2)
Fall of Atlanta
General Early (CSA)
Battle of Cedar Creek (2)
General Hood (CSA)
Battle of Franklin (e-book by John Copley)
Battle of Nashville (2)

Chapter 12

Sherman's March to the Sea (2)
Andersonville Prison
Camp Douglas
General John Schofield
13th Amendment to the Constitution
Surrender at Appomattox
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Assassination of President Lincoln 

Across Five Aprils

Today, we will begin reading the novel "Across Five Aprils", by Irene Hunt.

Across Five Aprils is a historical novel about a boy who grows up during the Civil War. Jethro's family farms in Southern Illinois and is divided about which side of the war to support. Two of his brothers fight for the North and one fights for the South. The remaining family members face trouble from the community because of the brother who went South. When Jethro's father has a heart attack, Jethro has to become the man of the family and the main farmer. He is a sensitive boy and hears of the war through letters, finding out that it is not a pleasant experience. By writing a letter to Abraham Lincoln, his hero, Jethro helps his cousin who deserted the Northern army. By the end of the novel, an enlightened Jethro comes to the realization of the horrors of war.

At the end of each chapter, write a 1 to 2 paragraph summary.

Comparison of North and South

Click on the following link to start lesson:  Quizlet

Test Today!

Click on the following link to take the test:  Causes of the Civil War Test

When finished, go to the following link to explore:  Civil War 150

Causes of the Civil War Games

Tomorrow, you have a test.  Click on the following links to play some games to help you learn about causes of the Civil War:

Hangman

Battleship

Eword game

Causes of the Civil War- matching game

Missouri Compromise and Compromise of 1850 quiz

Kansas Nebraska Act and Dred Scott quiz

Items on tomorrow's test include:
abolition
slavery- chattel
popular sovereignty
Missouri Compromise (1820)
Mexican Cession
Wilmot Proviso
Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Act
Kansas Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas
Pottowatomi Creek Massacre
tariff
John Brown
Dred Scott Case
raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia
Stephen A. Douglas
Abraham Lincoln
Democratic Party
Republican Party
secede
Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Election of 1860
states' rights

Link to an excellent powerpoint over causes of the Civil War:  powerpoint presentation

Slavery in America

Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of such lucrative crops as tobacco. Slavery was practiced throughout the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and African-American slaves helped build the economic foundations of the new nation. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 solidified the central importance of slavery to the South's economy. By the mid-19th century, America's westward expansion, along with a growing abolition movement in the North, would provoke a great debate over slavery that would tear the nation apart in the bloody American Civil War.

We will begin our study of slavery through the interactive site below:
The Underground Railroad
When finished exploring the site, go to the following link to write a story.  Print it and hand in.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/tell_story.asp

Slave States vs. Free States

Today you will be given 3 maps and instructions for completing each one.

In the years leading up to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, tensions began to rise between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions within the U.S. Congress and across the country. They reached a boiling point after Missouri’s 1819 request for admission to the Union as a slave state, which threatened to upset the delicate balance between slave states and free states. To keep the peace, Congress orchestrated a two-part compromise, granting Missouri’s request but also admitting Maine as a free state. It also passed an amendment that drew an imaginary line across the former Louisiana Territory, establishing a boundary between free and slave regions that remained the law of the land until it was made void by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.

Divisions over slavery in territory gained in the Mexican-American (1846-48). War were resolved in the Compromise of 1850. It consisted of laws admitting California as a free state, creating Utah and New Mexico territories with the question of slavery in each to be determined by popular sovereignty, settling a Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute in the former's favor, ending the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and making it easier for southerners to recover fugitive slaves.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was an 1854 bill that mandated "popular sovereignty"--allowing settlers of a territory to decide whether slavery would be allowed within a new state's borders. Proposed by Stephen A. Douglas--Abraham Lincoln's opponent in the influential Lincoln-Douglas debates--the bill overturned the Missouri Compromise's use of latitude as the boundary between slave and free territory. The conflicts that arose between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in the aftermath of the act's passage led to the period of violence known as Bleeding Kansas, and helped paved the way for the American Civil War (1861-65).

Enjoy Spring Break!!!!!!

The Miracle Worker

To go along with the idea of reform movements, we will begin watching "The Miracle Worker".  The story is about a blind and deaf girl named Helen Keller and her extraordinary teacher, Anne Sullivan.  At a time when people who were blind or deaf were either kept at home their entire lives with little contact with the people they lived with, or were sent to an institution where they were fed and given a bed to sleep in but really no education, Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller to read, write, and speak.  Helen would eventually attend college and become a world famous phenomenon. 

Reform is about giving opportunity to those who have been left out of our democratic society.  Reform, in the 19th century and now, strives to reach the promises of the Declaration of Independence: 
                         "All men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain        
                               unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
                                                                                                              -Thomas Jefferson  

If you were absent from class today, go to the following link to watch the first 15 minutes:

The Miracle Worker



Reform Poster

After completing the research for 19th century reformers, choose a reform and make a poster.  Your poster should convince others to join the movement.
To get a top grade, you will need each of the following:

-Reasons for movement
-Leaders of the movement
-Plans for making the movement successful
-A catchy slogan
-Pictures (drawn or printed)
-Lots of colors

You will be given a poster scoring rubric in class.
If you were gone, or lost yours, click on the following link:
Poster Rubric

The Ambiguous Democracy

The decades before the Civil War saw the birth of the American reform tradition. Reformers--female and male, black and white--launched unprecedented campaigns to educate the deaf and the blind, rehabilitate criminals, extend equal rights to women, and abolish slavery. Our modern systems of free public schools, prisons, and hospitals for the infirm and the mentally ill are all legacies of this first generation of American reform.. 

Below you will find a link to the chart that contains many of these reform movements.  If you were not in class or have misplaced the chart, you may copy it off and fill it out using Chapter 15 in your textbook. 
19th Century Reform Movements

Did you pass the test??

Yesterday you took the test citizenship from the Department of Immigration and Naturalization.  Some of you did really well, others not so much.  Today, you will get the opportunity to search for answers on the laptops.  Fill it in, I will look at it to make sure it is correct, then you can play
Immigration Nation

The Process of Naturalization

Today we look at the process immigrants must go through to become a citizen.  One of the major obstacles is passing the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Test.  Students will take the test today to see if they know as much as the average "new citizen".

Where did you come from?

http://www.surnamedb.com/

http://www.houseofnames.com/

http://worldnames.publicprofiler.org/Main.aspx

http://www.ellisisland.org/

http://www.cyndislist.com/

When finished with your KWL chart click on the following link to play a game:  Immigration Nation

Immigration Nation

During our study of the industrial revolution, you saw how people who desired a weekly paycheck moved off the farms and into the cities.  These cities were centers of trade and had a natural appeal for newly arriving immigrants.  Immigration helped to fuel the industrial revolution as people from all over the world came to America looking for opportunities. 

Today you will take an online field trip to Ellis Island where you will learn more about immigration.  Click on the following link:  Immigrant field trip

You will be given a KWL chart to fill out as you explore.

National Geographic:-Megastructures-Extreme Railway

Click on the following link to watch today's video:  Film

Transportation Revolution

Go to the following link to watch a video and answer the questions you were given at the beginning of class:  Video

When finished with the video, go to the following link to fill out the map for canals and railroads: 
canals and railroads map

Industrial Revolution Activities

Click on the following link to read about 3 giants of the early Industrial Revolution:  Information

Make sure you take good notes because you will have some activities to complete.  Click on the following link to go to the activities page:  Activities

Industrial Revolution

Today, we will begin our unit on the First Industrial Revolution by researching inventions and inventors.  If you are not at school today, go to the following site to find the chart to copy and complete:  Inventions and Inventors of the Industrial Revolution Chart

When finished, watch the following video
clip about the industrial revolution:

http://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution/videos#the-industrial-revolition

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was a 19th century American belief that it was the God-given right of Americans to expand the country as far in every direction as possible.  Driven by political, religious, and economic incentives, the United States would reach the Pacific Ocean. 

Today, you will complete a Westward Expansion map using the animated map below.

Animated Map
When you finish map and turn it in, go to
50 states game
If you score lower than 44/50, play again!

 

Andrew Jackson Evaluation

Today, using the chart you completed for Andrew Jackson's Presidency, you will evaluate his presidency by answering the following question:  "Was the Presidency of Andrew Jackson beneficial or harmful to the American people?".
Remember that although this is not a formal essay, you still need to provide examples, facts, and details to support your answer.

Explore the following examples from your chart before answering:

The Spoils System
The Kitchen Cabinet
Jackson's veto of the Second Bank of the United States
The Indian Removal Act
Worcester v. Georgia

Hero or Villan

If you were absent today, click on the following link to watch the video we saw in class today.  Watch 30 minutes, write 5 things you learned about Andrew Jackson as a young man, then draw a picture of Jackson depicting what he may have been like before becoming a politician.

Andrew Jackson: Hero or Villan?

The Age of Jackson

Today we will complete vocabulary for the "Age of Jackson".  The assignment will be due Wednesday at the beginning of the period.  If you do not finish today, you may check out a book, or simply use your computer at home to "google" helpful sites.

You can find the following words, people, and terms in your textbook from pages 374-384

nominating conventions
spoils system
kitchen cabinet
states' rights
nullification crisis
Andrew Jackson
Democratic Party
John C. Calhoun
Martin Van Buren
Tariff of Abominations
Daniel Webster
McCulloch v. Maryland
Whig Party
Panic of 1837
William Henry Harrison
Black Hawk
Indian Removal Act
Indian Territory
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
Sequoya
John Ross
Worcester v. Georgia
Trail of Tears
Osceola

Technology Survey

Click on the following link to fill out the district technology survey:  Technology Survey

When you are finished, read the article you were given.  We will have an activity and there is a packet to complete- due Monday, beginning of the period.

Crisis of Nations

Last week we studied the foreign policy and diplomacy of the United States during its first 40 years  as a nation.  There were many events that affected our relationships with foreign nations.  Today you will play a game called Crisis of Nations. 

In Crisis of Nations, take the helm of your own country and work together with others to solve international problems! As the leader of your own country, you'll have to make tough choices about how to use military, espionage, and economic resources to serve both the best interests of your own country and the larger global community. Navigate a shifting landscape of international allies and enemies as you declare war, broker peace, and increase prosperity at home.

Click on the following link to play the game:  Crisis of Nations

U.S Foreign Policy 1783-1823

As a new nation, the U.S. struggled with stronger, more established nations. This assignment will help you learn more about the events between 1783 and 1823 that changed the role of the U.S. in the world.

First go to the following link to find the foreign policy worksheet:  U.S. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 1783-1823

There, you will find a chart of events involving the U.S. and foreign nations. You may google each event, or find it in your textbook, read about it, then fill in the chart. Keep in mind, you want to determine whether the U.S was most successful when using diplomacy/compromise or when using military action.
If you struggle with finding information, click on this link to find useful sites for each event:
Useful research links

In the end, you will want to be able to agree or disagree with the following statement: "The United States earned the respect of European nations between the years 1783-1823 through compromise".     You will write a 5-paragraph essay to support your opinion.  It is due Monday, February 11th.

Counties Work!

Today, if you have finished and turned in the States Rule and the Capable Counties webquest questions, you may play a new game called "Counties Work!"
Click on the following link to play the game:  Counties Work

Webquest!

Now that you have studied how a state works you are ready for a webquest!  Follow the link and answer the questions on the hand-out:    States Rule Webquest
If you are not at school today, answer the following questions on a google doc and share with me.

1. Do you think it is important to divide power between the state and national government?
           Why or why not?
2.  Who is the governor of Iowa?
3.  Describe one thing that he is working on in our state.
4.  In your own words, describe the similarity between being governor of a state and being president
            of the United States.  Explain the difference.
5.  What is the name of Iowa's legislature? (Hint: it may have two houses with two different names)
6.  List three types of courts found in Iowa.




If you finish early, start the county webquest by clicking on the link below.  Make sure you answer the questions on the hand-out.
County Basics Webquest
If you are not at school and cannot get the hand-out, answer the following questions on a google doc and share with me.

1.  How did the county form of government develop? 
2.  How long have counties been a part of the government structure in the United States?
3.  How many counties are there in the United States?
4.  Which state has the most counties?
5.  Which states have the fewest counties?
6.  Do any states not have counties?
7.  What are the top 10 county names?
8.  How many states have counties with these names?
9.  Complete the following information for your county:
          County name:
          Population:
          Size:
          County seat:
          Name 3 elected officials and their position titles:
    

Executive Command

Today you will play an icivics game called Executive Command
Click on the following link to play: http://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command